Don't allow ships from Japan to release water: Goa authorities

Panaji, April 22: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked the two main ports in the state not to allow the ships arriving from Japan to de-ballast the water, in view of the fears of radiation leaks in that country.

GSPCB has issued strict instructions to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the state owned Panaji Minor Port to ensure that the ships which had called on Japanese ports do not release their water.

Following the directive, a big ship which arrived from Japan recently was made to anchor at the outer port.

The directive from the pollution control agency came after the state director of Science and Environment informed that two ships which had earlier called on the Japanese port were likely to enter Goa ports.

"We immediately issued directions for both the ports," GSPCB Chairman Simon de Souza told PTI adding that authorities did not have equipment to check the radiation levels.

De Souza said the precautionary measures were being taken to ensure that the water was not contaminated by radiation.

One of the ships, which had called on a Japanese port, was quarantined at the outer limits of the port.

"The ship agent has presented the letters from International Maritime Organisations clarifying that there is no fear of radiations and there is no need of screening the ship water," de Souza stated.

The agent claimed that ship had already de-ballasted the water off-Singapore coast on the way to Goa and refilled with the new water.

De Souza said that GSPCB will take the final call on the matter only after examining the documents provided by the agent.

PTI